Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4

Chapter 94 — शिलाविन्यासविधानम्

The Procedure for Laying the Foundation Stones

Devanagari script

नकारारूढमूलेन कुम्भे ऽस्मिन् धारयेच्छिलां कुम्भानष्टौ सभद्रादीन् दिक्षु पूर्वादिषु क्रमात्

Transliteration

nakārārūḍhamūlena kumbhe 'smin dhārayecchilāṃ kumbhānaṣṭau sabhadrādīn dikṣu pūrvādiṣu kramāt

Translation

‘न’कारारूढ मूलमंत्राने या कुंभात शिला स्थिर करावी। नंतर सभद्रा इत्यादी आठ कुंभ पूर्वादि दिशांत क्रमाने मांडावेत।

Word by Word

• नकार-आरूढ-मूलेन: with the root mounted on the syllable ‘na’
• नकार-आरूढ-मूलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नकार (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढ (कृदन्त, आ+रुह्) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (nakāre ārūḍhaṃ mūlam yasya / nakāre ārūḍhaṃ mūlam)

• कुम्भे: in the pot
• कुम्भे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धारयेत्: should hold/place
• धारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शिलाम्: the stone
• शिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• कुम्भान्: pots
• कुम्भान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• सुभद्र-आदीन्: Subhadrā and the others
• सुभद्र-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘ādi’ समास (sabhadrāḥ ādayaḥ)

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• पूर्व-आदिषु: in the eastern etc. (directions)
• पूर्व-आदिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘ādi’ समास (pūrvaḥ ādayaḥ)

• क्रमात्: in order
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुम्भे ऽस्मिन् = कुम्भे अस्मिन्; धारयेच्छिलां = धारयेत् शिलाम्; नकारारूढमूलेन = नकार-आरूढ-मूलेन

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Kumbha (ritual pot)
• Mūla-mantra (root mantra)
• Dik (cardinal directions)
• Sabhadra

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches kumbha-sthāpana with mantra-application: stabilizing the main ritual pot with a stone and placing eight auxiliary pots direction-wise (dik-krama) beginning from the East.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

It preserves precise, implementable liturgical engineering—mantra usage, physical setup (stone support), and spatial (directional) arrangement—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical temple/household ritual protocols alongside theology.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Correct mantra-linked placement and directional order are treated as essential for ritual purity, protection, and efficacy—ensuring the rite becomes ‘properly installed’ (sthāpita) and yields auspicious, unobstructed results.